Latmos Mountain

Sakarkaya, Latmos Mountains, Turkey.

Heraclea at Latmus

It is said that Endymion is a young and handsome shepherd living on
Mount Latmos who has been considered sacred since prehistoric times.
According to the ancient myth, Endymion used to graze his herds on
Latmos Mountain, with its slopes surrounded by lush green grass and
fragrant flowers, cheer up nature with the melodies pouring from his pipe.

8,000-year-old rock paintings

Were recently discovered in Türkiye's Latmos Mountains

Latmos was the home to the Moon Goddess Selena

According to Hesiod's (c. 700 BCE) Theogony, Selene is the daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia and the sister of Helios (Sun) and Eos (Dawn). She is also a descendant of Uranus (Heavens) and Gaia (Earth).

Marble sarcophagus with the myth of Selene and Endymion: A Latmos Love Affair

The myth of Selene and Endymion is about a rare female pursuit. The moon goddess, Selene, falls in love with the mortal Endymion. Endymion is said to be a shepherd, a hunter, or a king. Selene visited her sleeping love in the night as she rode her moon chariot across the night sky. She would come down to earth just to be with the beautiful Endymion.
“Or else, looking down on thee from the starry heavens, the orb [Selene the moon] that was born after the old Arcadians will lose control of her white-shining car [for love of a rustic, like Endymion]. And lately she blushed fiery red, though no staining cloud obscured her bright face”

– Seneca, Phaedra 786

Monastery of the Seven Brothers

A Monastery that was established by monks in the 7th century AD. The biggest part of the monastery is located in the Latmos Mountains near the village of Bucak.

The archetypal und archaic Anatolian goddess, Cybele, was revered not only throughout Anatolia but also on the neighboring (modern day) Greek islands.

Evidence of her cult can still be seen today in the cave formations and niches carved into hillsides. Her great gift to humanity is the mystery of rebirth.

Many of these caves symbolize the birth canal and end in womb-like forms. On the island of Samos, for example, one enters the caves as if stepping back into the darkness of the womb—not of a biological mother and father, but of the Great Goddess of eternity.

During our journey through Anatolia, we will visit many such places—caves and rock niches where Cybele was likely venerated long before the appearance and unveiling of the many goddesses who later emerged in human consciousness, in our hearts and in our souls.